Canmore’s history is based around coal production. This town was but a whistle stop on a the railway, but has – for many years – counted coal among its claims to fame.

Canmore is named after its namesake town in Scotland. Meaning “big head” in Celtic, it was named by Donald A. Smith, a Canadian Pacific Railway pioneer, in 1884. At that time, the newly named Canmore was just a little stop on the railway, but soon settlers found the new area and – thanks to its perfect position near then-current and potential coal mines -- quickly helped the city grow.

All around Canmore there were coal mining towns. Some of the workers lived in Canmore, while others moved to the town when small settlements closed down and coal workers and their families needed homes. In 1979, however, the last coal mine closed and many people worried that would spell the end of the tiny town of Canmore.

In 1988, however, Canmore became the site for the Winter Olympics’ Nordic events, and new life was breathed into this small and struggling town. Visitors to the Olympics discovered the town’s charms and perfect location at the base of the Canadian Rockies and proximity to Canada’s national parks, and the town found a new life.

Today, Canmore hosts thousands of visitors who come to relax, rejuvenate, perhaps take in some outdoor activities and enjoy the quiet beauty.

For more information on Canmore's past and present, click here.